Panchagarh people for re-exploration of abandoned oil mine

RANGPUR, Nov 5: The unexplored oil mine at Shalbahan under Tetulia Upazila in Panchagarh district remains abandoned for years.

According to sources in 1986-87 a petroleum development company discovered the oil mine. The experts of the company confirmed the existence of a huge stock of oil about nine hundred metres below the layer of soil, and submitted their survey reports to the government.

The head of the then government, on getting final reports on the oil mine, inaugurated its extraction work on April 10, 1988. The government also allocated Tk 350 million (35 crore) for execution of the project.

A foreign petroleum company under an agreement with the Bangladesh government switched on excavation of wells and traced the presence of oil feasible for its extraction on commercial basis from about 8,000 feet below the layer of soil.

The company on ascertaining existence of a huge quantity of oil stocks signed another agreement with the government and geared up extraction in full swing.

But surprisingly, a few days later the company left the site one night taking back their entire operation materials without informing anybody of the administration, sources said. The company also sealed the openings of all wells which they dug for lifting oil, sources added.

The people of Panchagarh district, as well as northern region of the country strongly urged the government to resume work of this abandoned oil mine to meet the country's requirements.